000 Allen FMT (i-xxii) - The Presbyterian Leader

Proper 8 [13]/Year A 55
the listener. An underlying theme is to deny that human sacrifice has a
place in Israel.
The narrator says simply that God “tested” (nasah) Abraham (Gen.
22:1). Almost all commentators point out that while God and the reader
are aware that this event is a test, Abraham is not. The horrific divine
command is stated in verse 2. If Abraham carries out the directive to make
Isaac a burnt offering, then the promises, repeatedly affirmed in chapters
12, 17, and 18, are rendered void because Sarah and Abraham would no
longer have an heir.
With haunting economy of language, the text describes Abraham,
Isaac, and the traveling party preparing for the journey and making their
way to the place God had shown them (Gen. 22:3–6). When they neared
the place of sacrifice, Isaac realized that they had no lamb (v. 7). Abraham
announced solemnly that God would provide.
Abraham was faithful in building the altar, laying the wood, binding
Isaac, and raising the knife, but he says nothing. “The intensity of the
anguish is beyond the ability of words to express.” 11
The angel interrupts the action, “Abraham, Abraham.” The test is over.
God knows that Abraham is faithful (Gen. 22:11–12). As Abraham had said
in verse 8, God provided (Gen. 22:13). Yet, as J. Gerald Janzen has written
with insight. “Isaac has been truly sacrificed—truly given up and given over
to God. The life [Isaac] will go on to live is truly God’s, and Abraham no
longer has any claim on it.” 12 By naming the place, Abraham also made
explicit a penultimate meaning of the story, “The Lord will Provide.”
The ultimate point of the story is in verses 16–18, as God reaffirmed
the promise to bless the children of Sarah and Abraham and through them
to bless other human families (as was promised in Gen. 12:1–3). God reinforces
the reader’s confidence in God’s promise-keeping will and power
by swearing an oath.
This heartrending story has significant pastoral purpose: to encourage
later generations to remain faithful even in the face of circumstances that
seem to deny the promises of God. The narrator wants readers (especially
the exiles) to believe that the God who provided the ram can also provide
for them.
At the same time, the story raises a searching theological issue. It is one
thing to say that the story as story has for listeners the pastoral function
just stated. It is another to think that God actively creates circumstances
to test individuals and communities. Even if God has the power to do so,
it would hardly express unconditional love if God creates circumstances of
pain and suffering, even in the name of helping those suffering develop a